Carole Dennett

Portsmouth

Editor at Isle of Wight Observer

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iwobserver.co.uk

Articles

Revamp for Big Meade play park

4 days ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

Children in Shanklin now have a new reason to head to Big Meade, with the opening of a revamped play park. The new facility was a joint project between the IW Council’s public realm team and Shanklin Town Council. The centrepiece of the playground is a play tower, funded by the IW Council, while a new set of swings was made possible through a contribution from the town council.
State of the Island Debate brings IW issues into focus

5 days ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

Almost 200 Islanders attended the first State of the Island Debate on the evening of Friday, June 13th, organised jointly by the IW Observer and Island Echo at the Riverside Centre in Newport. Many more watched online. The event marked Indy News Week, a nationwide initiative led by the Public Interest News Foundation to celebrate the role of independent news outlets.
SARfest raises over £1,300 for WightSAR search team

5 days ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

A weekend of live music, poetry and pints, in East Cowes, has raised more than £1,300 for Isle of Wight Search and Rescue (WightSAR). The first-ever SARfest took place over the late May bank holiday at Waverley Park Holiday Centre, thanks to the support of park owner, Julian, and his team. The free-to-enter event featured eight local bands, Ruby and the Diamonds, It’s not a phase Mom!, Kindred Found, Forever to go, The Damien Paul Band, Rehab Ramones, Abandon and The Ohmz.
Over 100 yachts vie for the Morgan Cup

5 days ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

The waters off Cowes will come alive on Friday as over 100 boats gather to take part in the Morgan Cup Race. Starting just after 1pm from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, crews representing 24 nations will set their sails towards Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the Morgan Cup Race is named after Sir John Edward Redmond Morgan, a member of the JP Morgan banking dynasty and a keen sailor.
Council services affected by Isle of Wight Festival

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

Several IW Council services will be temporarily affected during the IW Festival, which runs from Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22. Seaclose Office in Newport will close at 12 noon on Thursday, June 19 and partially reopen on Monday, June 23, with full public access resuming on Tuesday, June 24. Parking will be limited to the grassed area at the entrance to Seaclose Park.
Bears to be released into their new enclosure

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

Two European brown bears, rescued from captivity in Azerbaijan, are set to move into their permanent enclosure at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown tomorrow (Friday). Benji and Balu arrived on the Island on Monday, June 2, and have spent the past two and a half weeks adjusting to their new surroundings in a temporary enclosure.
Wildlife card scheme launched to inspire Sandown children

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

A new collectable card scheme, in Sandown, is encouraging families to connect with nature while supporting local shops. The ‘Nurture Nature’ cards were created by Christine Jackson, founding member and long-serving chairwoman of Sandown Green Town Volunteers (SGTV), with the aim of showing how easy it is to help wildlife at home, from planting for pollinators to providing bird baths or hedgehog shelters.
Utilita does its part for IW community

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

Community use of the Utilita Energy Hub in Newport has reached record levels, with increasing numbers of Island groups taking advantage of its free-to-hire warm space and complimentary refreshments. This week alone, Hub supervisor Simon Jackson and his team have welcomed Isle of Wight SENDIASS, the Lotus women’s welfare and social group, and the Island’s u3a. Simon said: “Our community room is buzzing with activity and we’re also looking forward to hosting an NHS mental health group next week.
Shhh… museum adds weekly quiet sessions

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

Sandown’s Dinosaur Isle museum will offer a quieter experience for visitors this summer, with a new weekly ‘quiet hour’ starting next month. Beginning Wednesday, July 2, the museum will open early every Wednesday from 9am to 10am, creating a calm, sound-free environment for those who may find the usual roaring effects overwhelming.
Fully electric ambulances to be trialled on IW

1 week ago | iwobserver.co.uk | Carole Dennett

The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service has been awarded £1.5m of additional funding as part of a national programme of fleet investment for ambulance services. The funds are part of investment by the government to expand urgent and emergency care facilities which are set to include almost 500 new ambulances across the country by March 2026.